Adhesive dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for applying an adhesive mixture, the constituents of which are contained within the dispenser in the form of small capsules, including a hollow cylindrical housing having a piston member slidably positioned therein and sealingly closing one end thereof. The other end of the housing includes a closure portion having a plurality of bores formed therein, the bores having a diameter of a size smaller than the capsules. Means for moving the piston member are provided which enable the piston member to crush the capsules, mix the adhesive constituent and force the mixture through the bores provided in the closure portion.

Bohli United States Patent 1191 [111 3,826,580 1451 July 30, 1974ADHESIVE DISPENSER lnventor:

Assignee:

William H. Bohli, Catonsville, Md. The United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC.

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl

Int. Cl.

Sept. 13, 1971 Field of Search 401/35, 132, 133, 150, 401/151, 172;222/325, 326, 327, 389;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Yoshida 222/325 Ailcs 222/325Miller 222/389 X lsgriggs et a1. 222/326 X Baymiller eta]; 401/132 IFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,386,908 12/1964 France 401/132 265,5797/1927 Great Britain 222/326 Primary Examiner-Samuel Feinberg Attorney,Agent, or Firm-R. S. Sciascia; .1. A. Cooke 5 7 ABSTRACT A dispenser forapplying an adhesive mixture, the constituents of which are containedwithin the dispenser in the form of small capsules, including a hollowcylindrical housing having a piston member slidably positioned thereinand sealingly closing one end thereof.

The other end of the housing includes a closure portion having aplurality of bores formed therein, the bores having a diameter of a sizesmaller than the capsules. Means for moving the piston member areprovided which enable the piston member to crush the capsules, mix theadhesive constituent and force the mixture through the bores provided inthe closure por- 1 tion.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures '1 1 ADHESIVE DISPENSER This inventionrelates generally to a dispensing device, and more particularly, to adevice for housing and dispensing an adhesive composition.

It has become necessary, recently, to provide a means forsecuringvarious items of hardware to surfaces of objects situatedunderwater, on land, or in space. Very often, a bond capable ofsupporting loads up to 1,500 lbs. must be quickly attained within ashort period of time, for example, about three minutes. Further, whenthe operator is in an adverse environment, such for example, asunderwater, or in space, the amount of working area available to him tocarrya device to achieve the abovementioned bonding is extremelylimited. Thus, a small, lightweight device for dispensing an adhesivecapable of providing sufficient bonding strength is desired.

A quick acting adhesive was recently developed by the National CashRegister-Company capable of providing the required bonding strength. Theadhesive is provided in spherical capsules of relatively small size andincludes two constituents eachcontained in separate micro" capsules.Initially a device was conceived wherein the adhesive capsules werecemented to the bonding surface thereof and fastening apparatus provided to attach hardwarethereto. The capsules were then crushed prior toattaching the hardware to the device. The bond strength obtained afterthree minutes varied between 50 and 200 psi for clean metal surfacesunderwater, the capsule chaff and the limited degree of adhesiveconstituent mixing apparently adversely affecting the jointstrengthAtternpts at using the adhesive constituents in anunencapsulated form withrapid mixing and application did not providestronger bonds.

Apparently, the degree of mixing was not sufficient in the abovedescribed methods for the particular adhesive employed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of this invention is toprovide a new" and improved adhesive dispensing device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedadhesive dispensing device which is both light and small.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide anew. andimproved adhesive dispensing device which sufficiently mixes a twoconstituent adhesive prior to application thereof onto the bondingsurface.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a new andimproved device for dispensing adhesive contained in micro capsules.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, these andother objects are attained by pro- BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGSDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference characters designate identical or correspondingparts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1thereof, the adhesive applicator, generally denoted as 10, includes asubstantially cylindrical housing 12 having a first bore 14 formedtherein which terminates a short distance above the lower surface ofhousing 12. Communicating with the upper surface of housing 12 is apartially threaded counterbore 18 whichv opens into bore 14 forming ashoulder 20. A piston member 22 includes a lower cylindrical portion 24having a diameter adapted to fitsnugly within bore 14 and includes anO-ring 26 provided within an annular groove 28. A central cylindricalportion 30, of the piston includes a threaded flange 32 defining ashoulder 34, the threaded flange 32 adapted to threadedly mate withcounterbore 18. An upper cylindrical portion 36 of the piston includes apair of cylindrical extensions 38 and 40 integrally formed adjacent thecentral cylindrical portion 30. A closure portion 42 having a pluralityof openings 44 formed centrally therein extends over and closes bore 14.The piston member 22 is positioned within bore 14 and counterbore 18with O-ring 26 sealingly cooperating with bore 14 and threaded flange 32cooperating with threaded counterbore 18. When in its initial position,shown in FIG. 1, a chamber 46 is defined by the upper surface of closureportion 42, the lower surface of the lower cylindrical portion 24 andbore 14. A plurality of adhesive containing microcapsules are positionedwithin chamber 46 prior to assembling piston member 22 into housing 12.Each adhesive capsule contains one of two adhesive constituents, theratio of the first to the second constituent depending on the particularadhesive, which when mixed together form an adhesive liquid which, upondrying, forms a high strength bond. The opening 44 formed in closureportion 42 are of a smaller diameter than the capsules thereby retainingthe capsules within the chamber 46. An elongate handle 48 is fixedlysecured to reduced cylindrical portion 38 and a ball 50 has its endsreleasably positioned within a pair of openings 52 formed within housing12. A cup-shaped cover 54 is provided to overlie the lower surface ofhousing 1.2. A cotter pin 56 is positioned within a bore formed withinreduced cylindrical portion 40 and 'is of sufficient length so that itends extend over the upper surface of housing 12. The cotter pin may beconnected to the cover by a chain 57. Finally, a pin 58 is verticallyfastened within a bore formed in the upper surface of housing 12.

In operation, the cotter pin 56 cooperates with pin 58 as a safetyfeature to prevent premature actuation of the adhesive applicator.Should the piston member in advertently be turned within housing 12, theend of cotter pin 56 would interfere with pin 58 thereby jamming themechanism. Thus, to ready the device for use, the cover 54 is removedand, in the same motion, the cotter pin is extricated from the reducedcylindrical portion by pulling on chain 57, using the cover as a handle.The operator then proceeds by twisting handle 48 in an appropriatedirection so as to cause the piston member to move in a downwarddirection, i.e., towards closure portion 42, thereby causing the lowersurface of the piston member to crush the microcapsules thereby mixingtogether the contents thereof and forcing the resultantadhesive mixturethrough the openings 44 in closure portion 42 onto the lower surface ofthe circular disc. O-ring 26 prevents the adhesive mixture from movingupwardly and fouling the apparatus by bonding the piston member to thehousing. The adhesive applicator is then pushed against a surface with arotating motion and held in place approximately seconds after which itmay be released. After about 3 minutes a load can be applied to the bail50.

Referring to FIG. 2, an alternate embodiment is illustrated which hasthe capability of containing many more adhesive capsules than the deviceof FIG. 1. Such a device is employed as an adhesive dispenser forapplying the adhesive directly to an object to be bonded when the areaof the object to be coated with adhesive is quite large. A cylindricalhousing 60 is provided having an integral closure portion 62 formedatone end thereof having a plurality of openings 64 formed therein. Theupper opening of housing 60 has a flange 66 formed therearound whichpermits a closure member 68 to be bolted by conventional means thereto.The closure member 68 has a threadedbore 70 formed centrally thereinthrough which an elongate threaded member 72 having a conventionalhandle assembly 74 fixed to its external end, i.e., the end notpositioned within housing 60. A piston member 76, having an O- ring 78held in an annular groove which sealingly cooperates with the'innersurface of housing 60, is coupled to the internal end, i.e., the endpositioned within housing 60, of elongate threaded member 72. Theinternal end of elongate threaded member 72 includes a cylindricalmember 80 having a flange 82 formed thereon. The piston member 76includes a bore 84 formed therein having an annular recess 86 formedmidway within the bore. An annular retaining ring 88 is positionedwithin the recess 86 and extends over flange 82 thereby attaching thepiston member 76 to the lower end of the elongate threaded member 72. Inoperation, the operator turns crank 74 in the appropriate directionthereby lowering piston member 76 in housing 60. Adhesive containingmicrocapsules are provided within the housing in a similar manner asdescribed hereinbefore. Again, openings 64 are of a size smaller thanthe microcapsules. The lowering piston crushes the capsules and mixesthe resultant adhesive mixture thereby forcing the mixture throughopenings 64 and onto the object to be fastened.

Turning to FIG. 3, an adhesive dispenser of a similar type as shown inFIG. 2 is illustrated. A capsule housing 90 is substantially identicalto housing 60 shown in FIG. 2 except an O-ring 92 is provided in aflange 94 formed at the upper end of the housing. An annular shoulder 96is formed adjacent the flange 94 and provides a seat for a circularplate 98 which itself includes a plurality of openings 100 formedtherein. A gas supply housing 102 is fixed to the upper end of housing90 in a manner to be described hereinafter which encloses a pressurizedgas container such, for example, as a C0 capsule 104. The lower portionof housing 102 includes a threaded portion 106. A cylindrical retainingmember 110, having an inwardly extending flange 112 formed thereon andan internally threaded portion 114, is threaded onto housing 102 untilthe inwardly extending flange 112 abuts the lower surface of flange 94formed on housing 90, thereby fixing housing 102 in position adjacentand above housing 90. A firing pin 116 is provided above CO capsule 104in a bore 118 and is biased in an upward directon by spring 120 bearingagainst an annular flange 122 provided on the firing pin. The pin isprevented from leaving the bore 118 by a bell crank 124 pivoted on theoutside of housing 102 at 126 and having a cam surface 127 formed at oneend thereof. The firing pin is further provided with a cam follower 128whose lower surface forms an annular groove with the flange 122 withinwhich an O-ring 130 is positioned. A flexible line 132 is affixed to oneend of bell crank 124. In operation, the operator pulls line 132 therebypivoting bell crank 124 and forcing firing pin 116 through the upperwall of CO capsule 104. The escaping gas is prevented from exitinghousing 102 due to O-rings 92 and 130 and is forced to enter housing 90,thereby forcing a piston member 134 in a downward direction in a similarmanner as described hereinbefore thereby crushing adhesive containingmicrocapsules.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An adhesive mixer and dispenser device comprismg:

a housing having a substantially cylindrical bore formed therethrough;

a piston slidably disposed in and sealably closing one end of said bore;

meansfor moving said piston axially in said bore;

end closure means at the other end of said bore having a plurality ofsmall passages communicating from said housing to the outside; and

a plurality of frangible capsules larger in diameter than said.passages, each containing one or the other of the constituents of atwo-part adhesive system contained in said housing, whereby the capsulesare crushed, the contents mixed and dispensed and the crushed capsulesare retained by said small passages.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said piston moving meansincludes an externally threaded cylindrical portion coupled to saidpiston cooperatively associated with an internally threaded portionformed on said housing, and wherein said device includes for holding andconnection a bail member having a pair of ends releasably affixed tosaid housing.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said piston member movingmeans includes a selectively actuat- 3,826,580 y 6 able means forsupplying pressurized gas into said housply means includes a secondhousing for a C0 ing whereby upon actuation said piston is caused tocontainer and means for puncturing said container opmove toward said endclosure means. eratively associated with said second housing.

4. A device as recited in claim 3 wherein said gas sup-

1. An adhesive mixer and dispenser device comprising: a housing having asubstantially cylindrical bore formed therethrough; a piston slidablydisposed in and sealably closing one end of said bore; means for movingsaid piston axially in said bore; end closure means at the other end ofsaid bore having a plurality of small passages communicating from saidhousing to the outside; and a plurality of frangible capsules larger indiameter than said passages, each containing one or the other of theconstituents of a two-part adhesive system contained in said housing,whereby the capsules are crushed, the contents mixed and dispensed andthe crushed capsules are retained by said small passages.
 2. A device asrecited in claim 1 wherein said piston moving means includes anexternally threaded cylindrical portion coupled to said pistoncooperatively associated with an internally threaded portion formed onsaid housing, and wherein said device includes for holding andconnection a bail member having a pair of ends releasably affixed tosaid housing.
 3. A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said pistonmember moving means includes a selectively actuatable means forsupplying pressurized gas into said housing whereby upon actuation saidpiston is caused to move toward said end closure means.
 4. A device asrecited in claim 3 wherein said gas supply means includes a secondhousing for a CO2 container and means for puncturing said containeroperatively associated with said second housing.